Awareness of Korea-China relations

Current South Korea-China relations are neither good nor bad, with 52% viewing the relationship as a wait-and-see approach.
The percentage of respondents who believe South Korea-China relations are "bad" will drop from 45% in 2025 to 26% in 2026, reaching just one in four.

Currently, 52% of respondents rate South Korea-China relations as "neither good nor bad," while 26% rate them as "bad," and 17% rate them as "good." Negative assessments have been declining since the survey began in 2023, dropping 19 percentage points from the previous year to just one in four this year. While negative assessments are slightly higher than positive ones, this survey shows a significant softening of negative perceptions, with many respondents refraining from evaluating the relationship, suggesting a "neither good nor bad" assessment. The overall sentiment is closer to a "wait-and-see" stance.

Regardless of gender, age, ideological orientation, favorability towards China, etc. last yearMore generally, negative perceptions of Korea-China relations appear to have diminished. However, among those in their 20s and 30s, conservatives, and groups highly negative toward China, three to four out of ten still view the current relationship negatively.

44% of respondents said Korea-China relations will improve over the next year, while only 11% said they will deteriorate.

As negative perceptions of South Korea-China relations ease, there are also projections that relations will improve over the next year. Forty-four percent of respondents believe that South Korea-China relations will "improve" over the next year, while 11% believe they will "deteriorate." The outlook for improved relations is four times higher than the negative outlook, with a 33 percentage point gap between the two. While negative outlooks have outweighed positive ones in every survey since 2023, this is the first time a positive outlook has surpassed negative ones. Thirty-eight percent of respondents believe that relations will "not change much from now," while 7% are "unsure."

By group, positive outlooks have increased across the board compared to last year. In particular, those aged 50 and older, progressives (64%), those who positively evaluate Korea-China relations (86%), and those with a high favorability rating toward China have a relatively positive outlook on the relationship. Conversely, those in their 2s and 30s, conservatives, and those who are very negative toward China have lower expectations for improving relations compared to other groups. However, even among these groups, expectations for "improvement" are higher than those for "deterioration," suggesting that there is room for improvement rather than a pessimistic view of the relationship.

South Korea-China relations are currently good and will remain similar or improve in the future, while those relations are currently average and will improve in the future.
While the positive reviews are overwhelming, some are 'wait and see' or 'negative reviews'

We combined the responses regarding the assessment of Korea-China relations and their future outlook into seven categories and examined perceptions by category. The highest percentage, at 24%, responded that "Korea-China relations are currently at an average level and will remain average in the future." One in four respondents took a wait-and-see approach, predicting that Korea-China relations will remain at an average level rather than significantly improve or worsen. Following this were 22% who responded that "Korea-China relations are currently at an average level but will improve in the future." Adding up all responses assessing current and future relations as above average reaches 40% (16% for "good" and "same or better" and 22% for "average" and "improvement").

In contrast, one in five (19%) responded that "South Korea-China relations are currently poor and will remain at this level or worsen in the future." Only 3% of respondents believed that "South Korea-China relations are currently average and will worsen in the future." Overall, a relatively high percentage of respondents view South Korea-China relations as positive or above average. However, some respondents also take a wait-and-see approach and view the relationship negatively.

About half of those in their 20s and 30s fall into the "Currently average & future similar" or "Currently bad & future stable or worsening" categories. Their views on the present and future of South Korea-China relations are hardly optimistic. Progressives rate the current South Korea-China relationship as above average, and they are more likely to anticipate further improvement in the next year. Conversely, more than half of centrists and conservatives view the relationship as "Currently average & future similar," while others view both the present and the future negatively.

Both the Korea-China and Korea-US relations are important, but the importance of the Korea-US relationship is greater than that of the Korea-China relationship.
Both Korea-China and Korea-Japan relations are equally important.

Respondents were asked which was more important: the Korea-China relationship, the Korea-US relationship, or the Korea-China relationship, or the Korea-Japan relationship. In the Korea-China and Korea-US comparisons, 46% of respondents said the "Korea-US relationship is more important," far outpacing the "Korea-China relationship is more important" (8%). Conversely, in the Korea-China and Korea-Japan comparisons, the responses were similar: "Korea-China relationship is more important" (25%) and "Korea-Japan relationship is more important" (23%). More than 40% of respondents said the "Korea-China and Korea-US relationships are equally important" (41%) and the "Korea-China and Korea-Japan relationships are equally important" (44%). There is considerable recognition that a balanced positioning, without leaning too heavily toward one side, is important. However, when comparing the Korea-China and Korea-US relationships alone, the weight seems to lean more toward the Korea-US relationship.

Those in their 20s and 30s, conservatives, and those who are highly negative toward China have relatively negative perceptions of Korea-China relations and their future outlook. They can be categorized as being relatively wary of China-China relations. Among these individuals, over 60% believe the Korea-US relationship is more important than the Korea-China and Korea-US relations. When comparing Korea-China and Korea-Japan relations, relatively high percentages of respondents said the relationship is equally important or that the Korea-Japan relationship is more important. The consensus on the Korea-China relationship being more important than the Korea-Japan relationship is low, at around 10-2%.

Even among those in their 5s and 60s, progressives, and groups favoring South Korea-China relations, who either positively evaluate South Korea-China relations or have a high level of favorability toward China, comparisons of South Korea-China and South Korea-US relations place greater emphasis on the importance of the South Korea-US relationship. However, comparisons of South Korea-China and South Korea-Japan tend to place greater emphasis on the South Korea-China relationship.

China's influence on our country

China is a threat to our country's security, economy, and unification.
Perceptions of security and economic threats increased slightly compared to last year.

We examined how China is perceived to impact South Korea's security, economy, and unification of the Korean Peninsula. 67% of respondents perceive China as a threat to South Korea's security, while 15% perceive it as a help. Regarding the economy, 60% see it as a threat and 27% as a help. Regarding unification, 60% see it as a threat and 16% see it as a help. In summary, more than six out of ten respondents believe China threatens South Korea's security, economy, and unification. Perceptions of China as a threat to South Korea's security and economy, which had been declining for two consecutive years, rebounded by 7 and 9 percentage points, respectively, in this survey. Perceptions of China as a threat to unification have been declining for three consecutive years.

Last year's survey on perceptions of the United StatesIn this survey, approximately 4-6 out of 10 respondents answered that the United States is helpful to South Korea's "security (57%)" and "economy (44%)." Compared to the same question where China was answered to be helpful to South Korea's "security (15%)" and "economy (27%)," a clear difference in perception is evident. Regarding the unification of North and South Korea, 28% of respondents said the United States is helpful, higher than the 16% who said China is helpful. While the timing of the survey differs, the percentage of respondents who consider the areas of security, economy, and unification "helpful" is generally higher in the United States than in China. This difference in perception is interpreted as being linked to the tendency to place greater weight on the importance of the South Korea-US relationship than on the South Korea-China relationship.

China is a threat to our country's security, economy, and unification.
Concerns are particularly high among those in their 2s and 30s, conservatives, those with a negative view of Korea-China relations, and those with low favorability toward China.

The overall perception of China's impact on South Korea's security, economy, and unification of North and South Korea is predominantly perceived as a threat. In particular, in the areas of security and economy, this perception has strengthened compared to the previous year. A closer look at each subgroup reveals differences in the intensity of perceptions of China as a threat and as a help. While all generations share a high level of perception of China as a threat to security, economy, and unification of North and South Korea, those in their 2s and 30s perceive China as a threat in these areas relatively more than other generations. The more conservative a person is, and the more negative their assessment of South Korea-China relations and favorability toward China, the more prominent the response "China is a threat." In other words, groups with greater wariness of relations with China tend to perceive China as a risk factor. Conversely, those aged 60 and older, progressives, those with a positive view of South Korea-China relations, and those with favorable views of China are more likely to perceive China as a help. However, even within these groups, the perception of China as a threat remains predominant, and the gap between the "threat" and "help" responses is small, so the evaluations do not skew sharply toward one side. In summary, concerns about the impact China will have on our country's security, economy, and unification of North and South Korea are generally high, and the perception of threat is particularly prominent among groups wary of China.

Areas of exchange and cooperation with China

Exchanges and cooperation with China are necessary in the areas of 'economy (69%)', 'politics and diplomacy (61%)', and 'culture and sports (58%)'.
Opinions are divided, with 43% saying cooperation with China is necessary in the military and security sectors, while 49% say there is no need for cooperation.

People believe close exchange and cooperation with China are necessary in the following areas: economy (69%), politics and diplomacy (61%), and culture and sports (58%). While China is often perceived as a threat to South Korea's security, economy, and unification, the necessity of cooperation in the economic and cultural sectors is also highlighted, as they are directly linked to national interests. Notably, with seven out of ten respondents viewing China as a threat to the South Korean economy, people believe there is a need to secure tangible benefits through cooperation with China.

In contrast, responses in the military and security sectors are divided, with 43% believing exchanges and cooperation are necessary and 49% saying they are not. While the majority believe China poses a threat to South Korea's security, unlike in the economic sphere, they believe military and security cooperation requires careful risk management.

Economic cooperation with China requires empathy and maintaining close ties.
Opinions are divided in politics and culture, and the gap in perception between pro-China and anti-China groups is clear in military and security.

There are gaps in perceptions of the need for exchange and cooperation with China across different groups. First, in the "economy" area, more than half of respondents believe close cooperation with China is necessary, regardless of gender, age, ideological orientation, assessment of Korea-China relations, or favorability toward China. Conversely, in the "politics and diplomacy" and "culture and sports" areas, perceptions diverge across groups, revealing some rifts. Among groups favoring China, such as the elderly, progressives, those who positively evaluate Korea-China relations, and those with a high favorability toward China, responses indicating the need for exchange and cooperation with China are high, with responses ranging from 60% to 70%. Conversely, among groups wary of China, such as those in their 6s and 30s, conservatives, and those who negatively evaluate Korea-China relations or are highly negative toward China, the gap between those who support cooperation and those who oppose it is even more pronounced. The gap between groups is particularly wide in the "military and security" area. Among those in their 2s and 30s, conservatives, those who negatively evaluated South Korea-China relations, and those who strongly negatively evaluated China, more than half responded that close cooperation with China in the areas of military and security was unnecessary. Conversely, those in their 2s and 5s, progressives, those who positively evaluated South Korea-China relations, and those with a high favorability toward China viewed cooperation not only in economic, political, and diplomatic areas, but also in military and security areas. In summary, people broadly share the view that economic issues should be approached from a national interest perspective. Conversely, in the areas of politics, diplomacy, culture, sports, and especially military and security, perceptions differ sharply depending on one's attitude toward China.

Evaluation of the January 26 Korea-China Summit

48% of respondents said the Korea-China summit held in January 2026 was successful, while 35% said it was not successful.
Positive evaluations are high among groups favorable to China, and positive evaluations of the performance exist even among cynical groups.

On January 5th, the South Korean president held a summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where they discussed the future direction of South Korea-China relations and key pending issues, including livelihoods, culture, and peace on the Korean Peninsula. In this survey, conducted immediately following the summit from January 9th to 12th, nearly half (48%) gave a positive assessment of the summit's outcome, while 35% said it had "no results," and 17% said they were "unsure."

By group, more than half of those in their 40s to 60s, progressives, those who positively evaluate Korea-China relations, and those who positively evaluate China believe the summit was successful. Conversely, those in their 18s to 29s, conservatives, those who negatively evaluate Korea-China relations, and those who are very negative toward China only see positive evaluations at 20-30%. Overall, those who favor China have a positive view of the summit, while those who are wary of China have a negative view. Meanwhile, among those in their 30s or those who have a slightly negative view of China, four to five out of ten believe the summit was successful. Even among those who are somewhat cynical about China, some are positively evaluating the summit.

52% of respondents said the January 26 South Korea-China summit will have a "positive impact" on future South Korea-China relations.
Positive outlook is high among groups favorable to China, and even some cynical groups give positive assessments of the outlook.

More than half (52%) of respondents expected the upcoming South Korea-China summit to have a positive impact on future South Korea-China relations. Only 10% predicted a "negative impact." A optimistic outlook was the most prevalent, with 27% saying it would have "no significant impact," and 12% saying they were "unsure."

By group, a majority of older adults, progressives, those who positively evaluate Korea-China relations, and those who have a high favorability rating for China hold a positive outlook. Conversely, positivity is lower among those aged 18-29 (28%), conservatives (37%), those who negatively evaluate Korea-China relations (32%), and those who strongly negatively evaluate China (30%), with only around 30%. However, even among groups with relatively cynical attitudes toward China, some view the summit's impact positively. While those in their 30s generally share similar public perceptions to those aged 18-29, 48% view the summit's impact on future Korea-China relations positively. Furthermore, even among those with a somewhat negative view of China, 55% believe the summit will have a positive impact on Korea-China relations.

The most important issue to address in South Korea-China relations is the North Korean nuclear issue and cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula (48%).
Next, 'Strengthening economic and trade cooperation (47%)' and 'Joint response to transnational crimes such as voice phishing (42%)' were selected.

Given the nature of the divided nation, discussions on peace on the Korean Peninsula have been ongoing. Therefore, respondents selected "North Korea's nuclear issue and cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula (48%, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd)" as the most important issue to address in future South Korea-China relations. The survey also confirmed the recognition that China poses a threat to South Korea's economy, but close exchanges and cooperation are necessary. Furthermore, nearly half of respondents identified "strengthening economic and trade cooperation (47%)" as a key issue. Economic and trade are closely linked to people's livelihoods and are viewed as top priorities from a national perspective.

Next, they selected "Joint response to transnational crimes such as voice phishing (42%)." Voice phishing has been a source of anxiety for the public, directly and indirectly, for a long time, and in the second half of 25, South Korean and Chinese authorities pursued an agreement for cooperation. Under these circumstances, there is a recognition that South Korea and China should prioritize and address this issue through cooperation.

Next, "Lifting the Korean Wave ban and expanding cultural exchanges (38%)" and "Cooperation on environmental issues such as fine dust and climate change (34%)" were considered important issues, followed by "Resolving historical distortion and cultural origin conflicts (29%)" and "Resolving maritime issues such as West Sea structures (28%)," which were similarly rated at around 30%. "Expanding human exchanges and visa convenience (9%)" was rated lower than other issues. While cultural and environmental issues are important, they appear to have remained in the mid-to-upper 30% range due to the need for long-term management. The importance of expanding visa convenience was relatively low. The visa-free policy has been implemented for 45 countries, including Korea, since November 10, 2025, and has been extended until the end of this year.It appears that the proportion of tasks recognized as core is relatively low, as it is announced that it will be done.

There are differences in the priorities of tasks to be addressed in Korea-China relations by subgroup.
Among those who positively evaluated the summit's outcomes, more than half expressed hope for expanded economic and trade relations, peace on the Korean Peninsula, and cultural exchanges.

About half of respondents identified "peaceful cooperation on the Korean Peninsula" and "strengthening economic and trade cooperation" as top priorities for future South Korea-China relations. However, priorities differ across subgroups. Those aged 18-29 ranked "responding to transnational crimes such as voice phishing" and "resolving historical distortions and conflicts based on cultural origins" as more urgent than "peace on the Korean Peninsula" or "strengthening economic and trade cooperation," which were the top priorities based on overall responses. Those in their 30s ranked "strengthening economic and trade cooperation," "responding to voice phishing," and "cooperation on environmental issues" as similar priorities.

Progressives prioritize peace on the Korean Peninsula, economic and trade cooperation, and the lifting of the ban on Korean Wave and expansion of cultural exchanges. Conversely, those with a negative view of South Korea-China relations prioritize joint crime response over economic and trade cooperation. Those who are highly negative toward China prioritize joint crime response as their top priority. Among those with a somewhat positive view of China, a majority prioritize expanding cultural exchanges.

Meanwhile, among respondents who answered that the Korea-China summit in January was fruitful, more than half said that the following should be prioritized: 'strengthening economic and trade cooperation (60%)', 'North Korean nuclear issue and cooperation for peace on the Korean Peninsula (54%)', and 'lifting the THAAD ban and expanding cultural exchanges (50%)'.

Note

  • The data in this report is rounded to the first decimal place and expressed as an integer, so the sum of the values ​​displayed on the report may not add up to 100%.
  • The frequency of multiple response questions may exceed 100%.
  • Please be cautious when interpreting if the number of responses is small.

Investigation overview

  • Population: Men and women aged 18 and older nationwide
  • Sampling frame: Korea Research Master Sample (approximately 25 people as of October 12)
  • Sampling method: Proportional allocation sampling by region, gender, and age
  • Sample size: 1,000 people
  • Sampling error: Assuming random sampling, the maximum allowable sampling error for each survey at the 95% confidence level is ±3.1%p.
  • Survey method: Web survey (url sent via text message and email)
  • Weighting method: Weighting by region, gender, and age based on registered resident population announced by the Ministry of Public Administration and Security in September 2025 (cell weighting)
  • Response rate: 54,096 people requested survey, 1,666 people participated, 1,000 people completed survey (1.8% compared to request, 60.6% compared to participation)
  • Survey date: October 2026 - October 1, 9
  • Research agency: Korea Research Co., Ltd. (CEO Ik-sang Noh)
Lee So-yeon
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